This week, I want to share the reason why I began finding regular, steady work raking leaves, shoveling snow, pulling weeds, etc., long before I was old enough to legally work for a business. It was a haircut!

My father decided that fifty cents was too much to pay the barber for my haircut. He took me to the church basement one day, had me sit on a stool and proceeded to cut my hair. A bowl would have been a blessed addition to the procedure.

My hair looked so horrible! This experience led me to two conclusions: First, I would find enough jobs to finance all future haircuts; Second, I would wear a stocking cap the rest of the winter so NO one would be able to see my hair. I was in 7th grade and wanted to look good! (g)

If you’ve seen my picture accompanying Inside Out, you know that I have little about which to be vain. However, I DO have hair. No balding spots. No receding hairline. I have a certain way I like to have it look.

My last haircut in Sarasota was from a gal who’s cut my hair for many years. I thought maybe I could make it last forever. Well, after four months, Pat suggested I might get a haircut or a dog license. I opted to go through the painful experience of looking for a new person to cut my hair.

When I sat in the chair, I explained how I wanted it cut. I told her that I wanted it at the top of my ears with fullness left in the back. As she furiously whacked away at my locks (she was supposed to meet her mother 50 miles away for supper in 35 minutes), she began telling me that it would be better if she did “this and that”, instead of what I’d specifically asked her to do. Well, my friend, “this and that” was a total disaster. It was the worst haircut I’ve ever had perpetrated on my head, including the wretched job my father did.

Now, I understand that hair is a renewable resource and there will be opportunities down the road to find someone else who MIGHT do a better job. I also know that the difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut is about six weeks. None of that makes me feel a bit better. I hate the way my hair looks. I pray every day that God will let it grown very quickly. I’m looking for my stocking cap! (g)

I got to thinking about how little we pay attention sometimes to the directions God gives us. Fortunately, pleasing and obeying Him is a renewable resource as long as we have life and breath. I also thought about our human tendency to know what’s best even when we don’t and the sometimes wretched consequences! (g)

What occurs to you after reading this piece? Any bad haircut stories? I’d love to hear from you.  Use the “Leave a Reply” box below and let me know what you think.

SOME RESPONSES TO “GPS…”

– His GPS system is infallible, unfailable, and unflappable. AMEN!! It seems man is trying a bit too hard to be like God. But HIS GPS is never out of calibration. That’s the difference. Ours can miscalculate! His can’t! GREAT piece as usual, Jerry!

– Thanks. I can’t wait to see your new one. I love getting these from you!!

– I liked that God positional system quote from your new friend. SOOOOOOoooooooo true. He also knows our position in Christ, our position about confessed sin or NOT. The other morning i woke at 5 am and felt i ought to ask God to help me if I had any unconfessed sins. A very neat list of them popped into my mind. They were all recent and NO old ones since God’s delete is permanent. “WOW! Thanks!.” I proceeded to name and confess to Him and I know I am forgiven, and those sins were deleted forever. It was a most lovely way to face the day. I never had it happen quite that clearly before. God’s memory is perfect. I’m glad cuz mine isn’t. So God knows our position on the planet, in our spiritual walk with Him, and knows what position our heart is in at any moment. Absolutely no downtime for the God Positional System. And the cost? Well to us, nothing, to His Son……? High.

– Remember me, the phone tech you met in Sarasota about 5 to 6 years ago? Thanks for sending all of your e-mails over the years. It’s about time I respond.

I appreciate your Inside Out e-mails, and am blessed to have met you in Sarasota.

– Long time since I have sat at this computer long enough to read your posts. “My Jesus Knows Just What I Need” This song is running through my mind as I ponder how long it is going to take the doctor to schedule my surgery, if my whole system is going to be poisoned because of the “chronic inflammation and ulcer” in the bowel. I even wonder at times if I am going to make it through this at all. Yes, right now I am very miserable and don’t know which way to turn. My body needs to get its GPS system going the right way. I do trust that God will see me through, but I can tell you that I am human and scared right now.

This is an interesting article that should pull lots of good comments, but I think I am stuck in the mode of “hurry up before I kick the bucket” mode. I appreciate so much you and Pat’s love and prayers much more than you know. Please keep them going.

– More good stuff. I might have to borrow a piece of your idea for a devotional I am writing, that is assuming I have your permission. Reading your piece encouraged me to hope that your office is set up and running. I suppose you could do it from your laptop, but I just want to hear that y’all are all set up and feeling good.

– Loved your story about GPS’. Haven’t ever seen a mechanical GPS, but I sure have been aware of God’s Positioning System! The last 22 years of my life has been totally directed by His GPS and I’m so glad! Twenty-two years ago, I turned my back on God when my husband passed away. If I had continued to keep my back turned towards Him, the last 22 years of my life up till now, would have been lost like the limousine driver was lost without his “mechanical” GPS. I do hope he finds the REAL GPS in his life. Great story. Love to you as always, praying for you and Pat and your ministries.

– Thanks for the story. I needed it this morning – it has been a tough couple of weeks.

– Papa J, I am not a gadget man like you but I do, at this moment, have a GPS sitting on my desk. My friend and I are sailing a 37′ Dufour out of Ft. Lauderdale in two weeks and I thought since the boat is equipped with GPS and charts now list GPS. I should read up on it.

I have a similar GPS story. While sailing off Rockland, Maine in a blanket fog a cigarette boat came at us and spun around us He said, “I have a full console of navigation equipment including GPS, but I don’t know how to use it. Do you know the way to North Haven?” One of my smart alec crew held up his $5 compass and said, “Get one of these.” He followed us to North Haven. Life’s kind of like that. We may have a full console of navigational equipment that we can’t use but what we should do is simply rely on HIM!

– This reminds me of a few years ago when I was a driver coordinator for a messenger service here in Chicago. I was responsible for bringing new drivers aboard and training them. The company’s headquarters in Minnesota had these state of the art computers which were required to be installed in drivers’ vehicle for communication with dispatch. They had GPS capabilities.

I had to learn how to use them and teach new drivers how to do so. That was a pain since many messengers were computer illiterate. But we got most of them to use the system and communicate with their dispatchers about where they were (if they didn’t already know) and the dispatchers would give them orders thru these computers. We had a lot of problems with the systems due to dead areas and technical errors in the systems. They often had to be swapped out and repaired. A few couriers had them in their vehicles and ran off with them. It was quite an experience with GPS. This brought back memories. Thanks for sharing this one, Papa J.

– As you can see, God has his work cut out for me. I love your piece you wrote on GPS. God does know where we are and what we need. It’s just that sometimes I just can’t take the pressure. I am a very patient person and love God with all my heart and soul. I just need God to move on my behalf and would appreciate your prayers. My husband went to counseling with me about five times and gave it up. He doesn’t want to communicate with me. He is not a Christian. I pray for God to change his heart. The counselor and I are praying God will reveal to me what is going on. Thank you. I appreciate you and your ministry very much.